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What is a lead software tester and how to become one
Software testing is one of the phases in the software development life cycle. It is vital to any software development field as many things could go wrong with software that is launched without testing.
A lead software tester spearheads the software testing team to ensure the quality, efficiency, and reliability of the software system. Your job as the lead software tester is to define the scope of testing within the stipulated guidelines and timelines, deploy necessary resources to carry out proper testing and create solutions for possible risk. The goal is to create standardized software, and as such, you must extensively review and analyze the software, identify weak points, provide recommendations and solutions and make your findings known to the software developer.
Your resume must include skills like providing technical support, customer service, active directory, Linux, and application development. Lead software testers usually have bachelor's degrees in the fields of computer science, business, and electrical engineering. You can earn up to $99,000 annually as a lead software tester.
What general advice would you give to a lead software tester?
Brian Glas
Assistant Professor of Computer Science, Union University
Gain different perspectives: Spend time with people in other roles that your job interacts with, and gain a solid understanding of how they view things; this is most valuable for career progression and understanding of how your work fits into the big picture.
Avg. Salary $100,101
Avg. Salary $59,228
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.51%
Asian 11.99%
Black or African American 6.24%
Hispanic or Latino 8.82%
Unknown 4.70%
White 67.73%
Genderfemale 32.45%
male 67.55%
Age - 43American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 43Stress level is manageable
7.1 - high
Complexity level is intermediate
7 - challenging
Work life balance is fair
6.4 - fair
Lead software tester career paths
Key steps to become a lead software tester
Explore lead software tester education requirements
Start to develop specific lead software tester skills
Skills Percentages Test Cases 7.08% Software Development 6.44% Scrum 5.93% Test Automation 5.43% Java 5.19% Complete relevant lead software tester training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New lead software testers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a lead software tester based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real lead software tester resumes.Research lead software tester duties and responsibilities
- Project also define UI standards for adaptive applications and define process to manage UI design standards for adaptive applications.
- Manage departmental inventory and troubleshoot testing, reporting and inventory issues.
- Test, verify and automate tests for the hardware interface API using java.
- Work with in all aspects of the SDLC.
Get lead software tester experience
Generally, it takes 2-4 years to become a lead software tester. The most common roles before becoming a lead software tester include software test engineer, quality assurance analyst team lead and quality assurance lead.Prepare your lead software tester resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your lead software tester resume.
You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a lead software tester resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose from 10+ customizable lead software tester resume templates
Build a professional lead software tester resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your lead software tester resume.
Apply for lead software tester jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a lead software tester job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How did you land your first lead software tester job
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Average lead software tester salary
The average lead software tester salary in the United States is $100,101 per year or $48 per hour. Lead software tester salaries range between $77,000 and $129,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do lead software testers rate their job?
Lead software tester reviews
Still have to deal with people :)
I like testing because it can be interesting. Things can change but also stay the same. I like routine but not repetition doing the same thing. Testing isn't the best job but a good job.
Some things you test can be really picky to pass. It's likely they will always fail the first time. Some test seem to always pass and seek insufficient. I always look at productivity but also efficiency. So if not necessary by customer and always passes I can't see why a part of the test he removed especially if another part of the test will fail if it does. Options I am always open to.
Working with technology.
Automated testing is more in demand than manual testing.
Updated January 8, 2025
